Job description

Job Description

This position will be based in Riyadh.

Reporting to the Managing Director for Saudi Arabia, the Vaccines Business Unit Director will lead the strategic and operational oversight of our company’s Vaccines portfolio in Saudi Arabia. The role carries full business and P&L accountability and is responsible for accelerating growth across public and private vaccine markets, driving inclusion and access strategies, advancing vaccination policies, and ensuring successful launch and lifecycle management of our company’s vaccines portfolio.

The position requires strong collaboration with regional and global stakeholders, health authorities, and strategic partners to shape the vaccination landscape in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 priorities and public health objectives. You will serve as a member of the Saudi Leadership Team and champion our company’s values, culture, and Ways of Working.

Key Responsibilities

Business Strategy and Execution

• Develop and execute the Vaccines business strategy to achieve sustainable growth and annual financial commitments.
• Maintain full accountability for the Vaccines P&L including revenue growth, profitability, market share, and forecasting.
• Drive successful execution across public and private market segments, maximizing performance of both pediatric and adult vaccine portfolios.
• Lead portfolio strategy across existing and future vaccine assets, including launch readiness and lifecycle management.
• Identify and pursue innovative opportunities to increase vaccine uptake through customer-centric and patient-focused approaches.
• Partner closely with Market Access, Policy, Medical Affairs, Commercial Operations, and Strategic Accounts teams to enhance access and utilization of vaccines.
• Lead inclusion, tender, procurement, and implementation strategies within national immunization programs and public-sector opportunities.
• Monitor healthcare trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory developments to shape future business opportunities.
• Design and implement long-term strategic plans aligned with our company's growth ambitions and Saudi Vision 2030 healthcare priorities.

Team Leadership

• Serve as a member of the Saudi Arabia Leadership Team and role model our company's Ways of Working and leadership principles.
• Lead, engage, and inspire the Vaccines organization including sales, marketing, VIM, and cross-functional teams.
• Establish a clear vision and strategic direction for the Vaccines business.
• Foster high levels of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and execution excellence.
• Influence internal and external stakeholders beyond direct reporting relationships to achieve business objectives.

Talent Management and Development

• Attract, retain, and develop diverse and high-performing talent.
• Build a strong succession pipeline and leadership bench for critical roles.
• Coach and develop team members through meaningful learning opportunities, stretch assignments, and career development plans.
• Create a psychologically safe, inclusive, and high-performance culture.
• Effectively manage performance by recognizing excellence and addressing underperformance where needed.

External Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement

• Build strategic partnerships with key healthcare stakeholders.
• Represent our company with governmental and healthcare stakeholders to advance vaccination priorities and public health outcomes.
• Establish our company as a trusted partner in disease prevention and vaccine innovation.
• Collaborate with regional and global teams to bring best practices and strategic insights into the Saudi market.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy required.
• Advanced Degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Medicine, Public Health, or related discipline preferred.
• MBA or equivalent business qualification preferred.

Experience

• Significant leadership experience within the pharmaceutical, vaccines, biotechnology, or healthcare industry.
• Proven experience leading a commercial business unit with P&L accountability.
• Deep understanding of the Saudi healthcare ecosystem, including MOH, NUPCO, HHC, health clusters, and Vision 2030 initiatives.
• Strong experience in vaccines, infectious diseases, public health programs, preventive healthcare, or related therapeutic areas.
• Demonstrated success in launch excellence, market expansion, and lifecycle management.
• Strong experience in market access, pricing, reimbursement, tender management, and public sector engagement.
• Fluency in English and Arabic (written and spoken).

Critical Experience

• Leadership of a business unit with responsibility for revenue growth, profitability, and resource management.
• Successful delivery of commercial and organizational transformation initiatives.
• Experience managing public and private healthcare markets.
• Strong understanding of national immunization programs, vaccination policies, and public health priorities.
• Experience influencing healthcare policy and engaging with health authorities.
• Proven success leading multifunctional teams within a matrix organization.
• Extensive experience in marketing, sales, and people leadership.
• Strong stakeholder management and executive communication skills.

Technical Competencies

• Strategic Thinking and Business Planning
• Commercial Excellence
• Strong Financial and P&L Acumen
• Vaccines Market and Public Health Expertise
• Change Management
• Cross-Functional Leadership

Behavioral Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• High Ethics and Integrity consistent with our company's values.
• Strong executive presence and leadership impact.
• Courageous and inclusive leadership.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Customer and patient focus.
• Agility and resilience in a rapidly evolving environment.
• Strong collaboration and teamwork.
• Ability to inspire and motivate large and diverse teams.
• Strong judgment and decision-making capabilities.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and psychological safety.

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

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Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Shift:

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Job Posting End Date:

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Preferred candidate

Years of experience

No experience required

Degree

Bachelor's degree / higher diploma